Motion-picture machine



N. POWER.

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED N0v. 21, 1914. RENEWED 050 10,1920.

1,4;23,452, I I, Patented July 18, 1922.

N. POWER.

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2|,1914. RENEWED DEC. 10, 1920.

1,423,452. PatentedJuly18Q1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

@mnwtm I POWER. MOTION PICTURE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV-21, I9I4.RENEWED DEC- 10, I920.

1,423,452. Patented July 18, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.N. POWER; MOTION PICTURE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV-21, {Ml-YENEWEDDEC- 10, I920- 1,423,452, Patented July 18, 1922 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' l WW M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS POWER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 NICHOLAS POWERCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

I MOTION-PICTURE MACHINE.

Patented July 18, 1922.

Application filed November 21, 1914, Serial No. 873,253. RenewedDecember 10, 1920. Serial No. 429,808.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I. NIo-HoLAs PowER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn,Kings County, New York. have invented new and useful Improvements inMotion-Picture Machines. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to moving picture projecting machines and has forits object a novel framing device which permits allthe feed sprocketsfor the film and the projection aperture plate to be rigidly andimmovably mounted on a frame whereby the machine frame may beconstructed of a single rigid piece of ample strength and stiffness tomaintain the alignment of the parts and obviate wear and consequentnoise and imperfect operation.

My novel framing mechanism with all film-moving and shutter-operatingparts in permanently fixed relation, permits very simple drivingconnections to be used, and greatly minimizes the liability to lack ofsynchronism bet-ween the shutter and the film-moving parts, which is afault of not infrequent occurrence in the present commercial machinesdue to the compensating adjustments required by the present fram-- ingdevices.

With the above object in view my invention consists of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation partly in section of the machine shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section of the apparatus shown in Figs.1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, partly'diagram- Inatic, of a modified formof framing de vice;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the framing device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the driving cam detached from the machine;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of framingdevice and also an enclosing casing for the machine;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation partly in section of the mechanism shown inFig. 8.; and

Fig. 10-is a vertical sectional view of the film gateand associatedparts at about the plane of the projection aperture.

Referring now to the drawings, and

partly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, ll indioates the;

frame of the machine here shown as comprising a base plate 2 having acentral vertical web 3 and a transverse vertical web 4 at the front edgeof the base plate on the side of the web 3 provided with the filmfeeding sprockets as will be later described.

The film feeding sprockets are as usual three in number'and comprise anupper continuously rotating sprocket 5, an intermittent sprocket 6, anda lower continuously driven sprocket 7. With the gearing shown 7 all thesprockets are driven from a single vertical shaft 8 rotatably supportedin brackets 9 projecting from the central web 3 near the top and bottom.The shaft 8 is driven from a crank handle 10 mounted near the upper edgeof the web 3 and having a large skew gear 11 meshing with a smallsimilar gear 12 attached to the shaft 8 whereby the shaft 8 is driven atsuificientspeed without an excess speed of the handle.

The sprocket 5 is fixedly attached to its shaft 13 which is mounted inan elongated bearing 14: attached to the opposite face of the web 3. Theshaft 13 projects through the web to a point adjacent the vertical shaft8 where it is supported in a bearing carried by the bracket 9 and hasattached to its free end a gear meshing with the gear 12 whereby thesprocket will be rotated continuously when the crank handle is operated.

The intermittent sprocket 6 is also mounted in an elongated bearingattached to the face of the web, but instead of being directly beneaththe sprocket 5 as in the ordinary moving picture machine, the sprocketis near the forward edge of the machine. The shaft of the intermittentsprocket is provided on its projecting end immediately beyond the faceof the web 3 with a fourarm cross 16, each arm of which has at its endan outwardly projecting pin 17. The pins 17 work in cam grooves formedin a barrel cam 18 fixedly'attached to a horizontal shaft 19 extendingat right angles to thesh aft 13 and driven from the shaft 8 by suitablegears proportioned to rotate the shaft 19 at four times the speed oftheshaft 13.

The cam 18 which is shown in detail in Figs. 3, and 7, is formed with acircumferential groove at each end of the cam, which grooves areconnected by an inclined cam groove 20 for shifting the pins of thecross from one groove to the other. The circumferential grooves ereeachprovided with an by the arrow in Fig.

continuously driven to the exit slot 21 and 22 through the outer flangeof the cam to permit movement of the locking pins during the rotation ofthe cross. The cam rotates in the direction indicated 3 and at eachpassage of the cam groove 20 the cross will be rotated through a quarterof a revolution while during the remaining portion of the movement ofthe cam the cross will be held stationary by the engagement of two ofits pins with the circumferential grooves. By properly curving the camgroove 20, the rate of acceleration of the movement ofthe intermittentsprocket may be made very gradual so as not to place undue strain uponthe film. Also the stopping of the movement of the sprocket may be soregulated that the film will have no momentum but will come absolutelyto rest, thereby causing each picture to absolutely register with theposition of the receding picture.

The lbwer continuously driven sprocket 7 is mounted in vertical linewith the upper sprocket 5 near the base of the frame and is from theshaft 8 by connections similar to the driving mechanism for the uppersprocket. From the lower sprocket the film passes through a slot in thebase of the machine into the usual magazine, not shown, for receivingthe same. Each of the sprockets is provided with the usual spring heldroller 25 for holding the film in engagement with the teeth of thesprocket.

The aperture plate 26 is fixedly attached web 3 of the frame beneath thesprocket rand hinged to the plate is the gate 27 having at each edge atension guide 28 for holding the film steady at the aperture. At thelower edge of the aperture plate the film passes over a'verticallya'djustable framing shoe 29 supported on rods 30 mounted for verticaladjustment in guides 31 formed on the back of the aperture plate. Asshown the shoe 29 is provided at each edge with raised flanges 32forming tracks for the edge of the film which maintain plane as-theaperture plate. taper into the face of the shoe distance below the edgeof the aperture plate to permit the desired vertical movement of theshoe 29 which movement is efl'ected by means of a crank arm 33 attachedto a pin projecting through the'web 3 and provided on its outer end witha framing handle 34:. The framing handleis preferably held in adjustedposition by means of the friction of the bearing of the pin which mayberegulated in any desired manner as for instance by a friction plug orscrew 35 set in the hearing. In its middle position of adjustment thelower edge of the shoe 29 is in line with the upper face of theintermittent sprocket 6 and; by adjusting the; framing The flanges thefilm in the same vertical a sufficient handle to raise and lower theshoe 29 a greater or lessamount of film may be taken up between theaperture and the sprocket to thereby frame the picture.

It will be observed that both the lower edge of the aperture plate andthe upper ends' of the guide flanges 32 curve away from the film so thatin either direction of adjustment there will be no sharp edges to engageand injure the film. The pull of the film is at right an 'les to thedirection of adjustment of the aming shoe whereby the framing shoe willremain in its adjusted position without tendency to displacement.

The projection lens indicated at 37 in Fig. 3 is attached to the web 4:in line with the projection aperture and in front'of the lens is arotary shutter 36 having segmental blades for alternately'cutting offthe light frdm the film during the time that the film is in motion. Thisshutter is attached to the end of the shaft 19 which carries the cam 18whereby the shutter is maintained in absolute synchronism with theintermittent sprocket.

The friction of the film against the shoe 29'is in no way detrimentalfor the reason that it is necessary to apply to the film at the aperturea considerable amount of friction in order to take up the momentum ofits rapid movement to insure proper registry of the successive picturesand I can therefore compensate for the friction of the shoe 29 byrelieving to some extent the friction of the guide springs 28 so thatthe to tal resistance to movement is the same as with the adjustablecarriage framing device of'the present construction. lit will of coursebe understood that the fricticn in l cases com-es merely on the marginscf the film as the aperture plate is provided with marginal flanges justsufiicient in height to raise the surface of the central portion oil thefilm off of the plate.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, and 6 I employ instead of theslidingly adjustable shoe 29 a pivoted framing. guide d0 pivotallymounted in the end of a yoke 42 attached to a pin 43' projecting throughthe web 3 of the machine and provided on its outer end with an adjustingarm 44 whereby the yoke may be oscillated to raise and lower the framingguide to vary the amount of film between the aperture and the intermittent sprocket. The arm 44 ma be held-in adjustable position by thefriction of its pivot but for this construction I prefer to use alocking screw 45 working in a slot in the web of the frame and having amilled nut which will be released with a slight turn to permit movementof the framing guide. By pivoting the fram ng guide in its yoke it isfree to adjust itself -to the plane of the film whereby excessive strainon the film is avoide 111 Figs. 8 to 10 I have shown a furthermodification of my framing device and have also illustrated how themachine may be provided with a casing to completely enclose the filmfeeding mechanism'to protect and safeguard the film against fire. Theframing; device as here'shown comprises a plate 50" mountedforverticaladjustment on the aper ture plate'5l which is provided with undercutguides at its edges to hold the plate 50 inplace. One of the under-cutguides 52 is detachably mounted upon the plate 51 so as to beadjustable'on suitable screws 53 to take the Wear on the contactingedges of the u -pi ate and guides and maintain sufiicient fricribs 54for holding the film against edgewise displacement, and immediatelywithin the ribs 54 the plate is formed with tracks 55 engaging themargins of the film, and raised slightly above the middle portion of theplate to prevent scarring of the emulsion on the film. The plate 50' isprovided with an elongated central aperture suflicie'nt in extent topermit the movement of the plate necessary for properly framing thepicture.

The aperture is formed by a tubular guide 56 set in the aperture plateand'having its rear edges terminating just out of contact with the faceof the film whereby a sharp outline of the produced. The framing deviceis operated by means picture on the screen will be of a link 57connected to its lower end and attached to the crank arm upon the pin 58pro-.

jecting through the sidewall of the casing and having on its outer endthe usual fram-V ing handle 59. I have shown in connection with thismodification the arrangement of the casing when an enclosed machine isdesired. As here shown the front and sidewalls of the frame form twosides of the casing, the-{other two sides being formed by a door havinga rear part 60 and a side Wall 61 hinged together at thecorner andhinged to the side wall of the frame at 62. The rear part 60 of thedoor. carries on its inner face a. frame 63 which s11 ports spring guideshoes 64 for holdingt e film at the aperture, and is provided with alatch 65 by which this part of the door may be held in operativeposition b engagement with a pin 66 on the aperture p ate projectingthrough the door. The part 61 of the door will be provided with asuitable-latch. not shown, for holding it in closed claims.

position so that the door and two walls of the casin' form asubstantially imperforate fire proo enclosure for the film in itspassage through the machine. By constructing a door of two hinged parts,the side of the casing may 'be opened without opening the rear door, orthe entire door may be opened to give ready access to all the parts ofthe machine, and when so opened the part 61 of' the door may beinterposed between the projecting arc and the film. The rear door61-is'of course provided with a suitable aperture a's indicated at 66 inFig. 8, which aperture-will be preferably provided with a suitablesafety shutter (not shown) such as is common in the art, closing theapertures whenth'emachine is in operation.

It will be obvious that instead of the vertical shaft 8" for driving thesprocket and shutter shafts, I may connect them with the crank handle bymeans of ordinary spur and bevel gears'."It will also be understood thatmy improved framing device may be used in connection with other forms offilm driving mechanism or vice versa, and that my invention is notlimited to the construction shown except as defined in the appendedHaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is r 1. In a moving picture machine, the combination of aframe, an intermittentl operated film feeding sprocket supported infixed position thereon, a plate having a projection aperture supportedin fixed relation to said sprocket, and means having a film engagingsurface stationary with regard to the movement of the film between saidplate and sprocket for varying the length of film between said plate andsaid sprocket.

2. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a frame having aprojection aperture, means for guiding said film vertically past saidaperture, an intermittently operated sprocket su ported on said frame ina different vertical plane from the plane of movement of the filmpa'rt,.and means having a film engaging surface stationary with regardto the movement of the film for varying the length of film between saidplate and sprocket.

3. In ij1 =,.moving picture machine, the combination of a framehaving aprojection aperture, means for guidin said film vertically past saidaperture, an intermittently operated sprocket supported on said frame ina different vertical plane from the plane of movement of the film part,and vertically movable means having a film engaging surface stationarywith regard to the movement of .the film for varying the length of filmbetween said plate and sprocket.

4. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a frame having aprojection aperture, an intermittently operated film having afilm'engaging surface stationary with re ard to the movement of the filmmountec? between said aperture and sprocket and movable in the plane ofmovement of the film past said aperture for varying the length of. filmbetween said aperture and sprocket.

5. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a frame havingaprojection aperture, a stationary film guide adjacent said aperture formaintaining the film in its proper plane of movement across saidaperture, an intermittently operated sprocket beyond said aperture, andan ad-. justable film guide between said aperture and sprocket andhaving a film engaging surface stationary with respect to the movementof the film in the same plane as the.

stationary guide.

6. In a movin picture machine, the combination of a rame having aprojection aperture, a stationary film guide adjacent said aperture formaintaining the film in its proper plane of movement across saidaperture, an intermittently operated sprocket beyond said aperture andout of the plane of 'said guide, and an adjustable film guide betweensaid aperture and sprocket and having a film engaging surface in thesame plane as the stationary guide and curving toward said sprocket,said surface being stationary with regard to the movement of the film.-

7. In a moving picture machine the combination of a frame having aprojection aperture, a stationarily supported film feed- 1 ing memberbelow said aperture, a film guide for maintaining the film in its properplane of movement across said aperture comprising a member having filmengaging guide tracks supported forvertical adjustment in said framewith the tracks at the sides of the aperture for engaging the margin ofthe film, and a film engaging member having parts for engaging theopposite faces of the film margins and yieldingly pressing them againstthe tracks of said first mentioned member, said first mentioned a memberbeing shaped to vary the length of the film path between the apertureand the film feeding member upon vertical movement of said firstmentioned member.

8. In a moving picture machine the combination of a frame having aprojection aperture, a stationarily supported intermittently rotatedsprocket for feeding the film past said aperture, a film guide at saidaperture comprising film-engaging tracks mounted for vertical movementon each side of said aperture, and a gate having springpressed tracksfor engaging the opposite faces of the film margins and pressing thefilm against said tracks, said tracks being shaped to vary the length offilm between said aperture and said sprocket upon vertical movementthereof. a

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this6th day of November, 1914.

NICHOLAS POWER. Witnesses:

W. B. Mon'roN,

CHARLES J. Canon.

